about time for what? Air Canada to try some more predatory pricing, fighting brands, and loss-making? I think they already do plenty of that. Now maybe someone can explain something: If the competition bureau had decided that tango was illegal, why is it being allowed to expand, or even to continue operations???

I agree Jean Leloup that Air Canada has got to stop being the bully. The reason Tango is still flying Captaingomes said. The LCC will not save Air Canada, will not put them into profitability and will not put more passengers in the empty seats.

Since the admitted idea is to compete with westjet, YKA, I'm guessing that Kamloops is not in the running, which must be doubly frustrating for you. However, woudln't it be interesting if they did serve kamloops? (I mean seeing as how WJ says the airport isn't safe, and such.)

So far it seems that every time a carrier starts an airline-within-an-airline subsidiay it ends up being burned. BA couldn't make a go of "GO", UA shelved the Shuttle and USAir pulled the plug on Metrojet. Ok, so Delta's Express is still around but, correct me if I'm wrong, it has been scaled back. Only time will tell whether AC will go down the same path. My gut feeling is that they won't be able to pull it off.

If Air Canada is stupid enough to take Westjet on directly than there is no way that they would realize that there are profitable routes Westjet doesn't serve. All of the LCC's routes will compete with Westjet, otherwise what's the point of competing with the mainline system.

I’m sorry did I miss something? Tango was responsible for the demise of C3? I realize that AC often abuses its dominant position when, and only when, its found to cut rates below those necessary to generate profits. Tango was not in the skies for a full three days when C3 went under. How are they responsible? They only operate three aircraft at the moment. It’s not like the one-month notice before its launch was enough time to drag away any significant number of C3 pax.
I do have another question for the thrones of Air Canada haters. Do you not continuously complain about a lack of competition? AC’s monopoly of the domestic skies? Air Canada has no current product to offer low cost consumers, right? So then does this not mean that Westjet should have some competition? They currently offer the only low cost product in Canada.
I see no problem with Air Canada bringing some competition to the table. With that said, for this competition to be fare Air Canada must cover there overhead.
Crj-900

Crj-900,
It may not be reasonable to blame C3's demise on Tango, I agree. However, it is a FACT (not an opinion) that the competition commissioner had decided that Tango was illegal, and was aint-competitively aimed at AC. So, althought they were not responsible for the demise of C3; the finding was that they WOULD have contributed to the demise of C3 further down the road, had they not collapsed anyway. Competition is good and the idea of the new LCC being a wholly owned but separate subsidiary (i.e., able to have lower costs) is at least a legal idea because they can compete using realistic fares. But this was not the case with tango, in that they were clearly (in the opinion of the government) selling tickets at below cost to hurt C3. As you know, this makes it a fighting brand and was therefore ILLEGAL. So I disagree with you about Tango and think they should be put to an end so that someone in the East will at least POSSIBLY have a chance to make money, other than AC. The new carrier , though, is another matter. Though I don't expect to be a fan of it, I don't think there's anything unethical about it - yet, and if it's properly and fairly run, then we should welcome it.

Crj-900 wrote: "I see no problem with Air Canada bringing some competition to the table."

But, as already mentioned in the other thread, what is the motivation for launching Zip?

It can't be in order to make a profit. Low-cost subsidiaries of mainline carriers have an abysmally poor success rate -- in fact, none of them have been a clear success. And setting up hubs in Hamilton and Calgary, instead of markets waiting to be developed like Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, is going to spark a war of attrition from which only one discount carrier will walk away alive.

Competition for profit motives is a fine thing; competition by using a loss-leader to knock off or debilitate a corporate rival is quite another.

I don't see a problem with increased competition. I once was bitter with Air Canada (having growing up loving Canadian Airlines), but have moved on. If Air Canada wants to offer me an airline that has low fares, GREAT! I can fly Air Canada at the same fares as Westjet or C3, but still get the benefits of the Air Canada network (ie. Aeroplan, increased frequency). I am scheduled to fly Air Canada next week YVR-LAX return, and I paid $400 per person. I still think that's too much.

Hey guys the OTHER crj 900 here.....who knows what Robert is doing, i guess now that there is little competition he's decided we have free riegn on the skies. I do agree however that C3 sealed it's own fate with some of their decisions and don't blame AC for that. All's fair in love and war. Good thing is, now all the C3 people can apply for jobs at AC low cost and don't gimme any of that BS that you'd NEVER work for AC. If you luv the industry, luv to fly(especially), you'll do whatever you can to get back into it. It'll be interesting to see who they hire. Even laid off AC employees are not guaranteed jobs, just preferential interview status. Good luck to all.